How do I upgrade the Ancient Cuirass in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild?

To upgrade the Ancient Cuirass in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you need to follow a specific process involving Great Fairy Fountains, materials, and rupees. The Ancient Cuirass is part of the Ancient Armor set, which is highly effective against Guardian enemies and provides a significant defense boost when fully upgraded. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to upgrade it.

First, you need to unlock at least one Great Fairy Fountain. There are four Great Fairy Fountains in the game, and each one requires a payment of rupees to unlock. The first fountain costs 100 rupees, the second 500, the third 1,000, and the fourth 10,000. You only need one fountain to start upgrading, but unlocking more allows you to upgrade your armor to higher levels. The fountains are located in specific areas: near Kakariko Village, near Tabantha Tower, near Tarrey Town, and near Gerudo Town.

Once youÔÇÖve unlocked a Great Fairy Fountain, you can approach the Great Fairy and select the Ancient Cuirass for upgrading. Each upgrade level requires specific materials and rupees. The Ancient Cuirass has four upgrade levels, and the materials needed increase in rarity and quantity as you progress.

For the first upgrade, you need 10 Ancient Springs, 5 Ancient Gears, and 100 rupees. Ancient Springs and Gears can be obtained by defeating Guardian Scouts in shrines or by scavenging parts from decayed Guardians in the overworld. Focus on shrines with Guardian Scouts, as they are a reliable source of these materials. The first upgrade increases the defense of the Ancient Cuirass and unlocks the set bonus when worn with the full Ancient Armor set.

The second upgrade requires 15 Ancient Springs, 10 Ancient Gears, and 500 rupees. At this stage, you may need to farm more Guardian Scouts or decayed Guardians. A good strategy is to visit areas with a high concentration of decayed Guardians, such as Hyrule Field or Central Hyrule. Use weapons like the Master Sword or Ancient weapons to deal extra damage to Guardians and make farming easier.

The third upgrade requires 15 Ancient Screws, 15 Ancient Shafts, and 1,000 rupees. Ancient Screws and Shafts are rarer than Springs and Gears, so you may need to spend more time farming. Consider using the Ancient Bow or Ancient Arrows to take down Guardians more efficiently. The third upgrade significantly boosts the defense of the Ancient Cuirass, making it one of the best armor pieces in the game.

The fourth and final upgrade requires 1 Star Fragment, 15 Ancient Cores, and 2,000 rupees. Star Fragments are rare and can be obtained by shooting down stars that fall from the sky at night or by completing certain quests. Ancient Cores are the rarest Guardian parts and are dropped by Guardian Stalkers or found in shrines. This upgrade maximizes the defense of the Ancient Cuirass and enhances the set bonus, which increases the damage of Ancient and Guardian weapons.

A common mistake is not preparing enough materials before attempting to upgrade. Farming Guardian parts can be time-consuming, so itÔÇÖs important to plan ahead. Another mistake is not unlocking multiple Great Fairy Fountains, as this limits your ability to upgrade armor to higher levels. Always carry weapons effective against Guardians, such as the Master Sword or Ancient weapons, to make farming easier.

Advanced techniques include using the Ancient Armor set bonus to maximize damage output with Ancient and Guardian weapons. This is particularly useful in areas with many Guardians, such as Hyrule Castle. Additionally, using the Ancient Cuirass in combination with other high-defense armor pieces can make Link nearly invincible in combat.

In summary, upgrading the Ancient Cuirass requires unlocking Great Fairy Fountains, collecting specific Guardian parts, and paying rupees. Focus on farming Guardian Scouts and decayed Guardians for materials, and consider using Ancient weapons for efficiency. Plan ahead and unlock multiple fountains to maximize your armorÔÇÖs potential. With the fully upgraded Ancient Cuirass, youÔÇÖll be well-equipped to face the toughest challenges in the game.